Alzheimer’s disease is a global and growing disease that affects all nations, all races, all genders, and millions of families. This issue's In the News article highlights statistics on Alzheimer’s disease with a particular emphasis on Alzheimer’s in the Hispanic/Latino community as LightBridge launches its Spanish-language website.
The link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease is our Featured Article in this issue. Also, Dr. Mindy addresses a reader’s concern about nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease.
We conclude with a reminder that as a caregiver, you must also take care of yourself. Our Caregiver Tips in this issue focus on strategies for addressing stress in your life, how to address the challenging changes in family relationships, and ways to de-stress and find joy. Please visit us at: LightBridgeHealthcare.com
NOW ON SALE! Volume 1: Managing the Difficulties of Mealtime & Overview of Alzheimer's Disease Click here to order Click here to view a demo
LightBridge Healthcare Launches Alzheimer’s Website in Spanish to Help Family Caregivers (San Antonio, Texas, March 20, 2008) For the millions of Spanish-speaking caregivers, LightBridge Healthcare Research has launched its Spanish-language website devoted to caregiving for persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The site offers articles on Alzheimer's disease and caregiving, strategies and tips for dealing with challenging behaviors, an on-line community forum, and recent news articles. The Spanish-language site replicates the full content available on LightBridge's English-language site.... read more Dementia Worldwide: In 2005, an estimated 24.3 million people worldwide had dementia, with 4.6 million new cases of dementia every year (one new case every 7 seconds). Dementia in Latin America: 4.6% (1.8 million) of the 40.1 million people in Latin America aged 60 years or older had dementia in 2001. Dementia in the Latino Population in the United States: In 2000, there were over 35 million Latinos (12.5% of the population) in the U.S. By 2050, this number will increase to an estimated 102.6 million Latinos (almost a quarter of the population)... read more
Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease Mindy J. Kim-Miller, MD, PhD
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia. Among persons at otherwise low risk of developing AD, having DM2 may increase that risk three to five times. Elevated hemoglobin A1C (a measure of average blood glucose level for the past few months) has been associated with an approximately 1.5-fold higher risk of developing cognitive impairment. Persons with AD are twice as likely to have impaired fasting glucose (blood glucose that is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes) than persons without AD. Although the exact mechanism of this link between DM2 and AD remains unclear, recent studies suggest that multiple processes are involved... read more
"I believe LightBridge is designed to meet the needs of the daily caregiver by offering quality information they can use to enhance the lives of those they care for." Karen Kauffman, PhD, CRNP, BC, is a board certified Gerontological Nurse Practicioner and an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.
_________________
CAREGIVER TESTIMONIAL "These CDs absolutely exceeded my expectations - They are extremely well done." Mr. Archibald Caregiver, CA
Mindy Kim-Miller, MD, PhD Click here to learn about Dr. Mindy
Question: Can the foods I eat affect my chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease? --Helen, 62, New York
Answer: Nutrition and Brain Aging Good nutrition is important not only for maintaining overall good physical health but may also help prevent the development and progression of dementia. Studies suggest that eating “brain healthy” foods including fruits, vegetables, and fish may improve cognition and reduce the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other age-related diseases. With aging, the body accumulates damage to DNA and proteins due to oxidative stress (damage caused by a form of oxygen) and inflammation. As this damage accumulates in the brain, brain cells die or lose their ability to function properly, which contributes to brain aging and degenerative diseases including dementia. Furthermore, the aging brain becomes more sensitive to oxidative and inflammatory stressors, which accelerates the aging process... read more
ABOUT LIGHTBRIDGE LightBridge Healthcare Research, Inc. is a provider of learning resources and educational guides based on cutting edge Alzheimer’s disease research custom designed for the at-home caregiver. We understand the complications, challenges, and resulting stresses associated with caring for loved ones afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease... read more
SUBSCRIBE If you would like to receive a complimentary copy of this newsletter, please reply to this email and place "subscribe" in the subject line.
For more caregiver stress tips click here
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Subscribe If you would like to receive a complimentary copy of this newsletter, please reply to this email and place "subscribe" in the subject line. Unsubscribe To unsubscribe from the LightBridge newsletter, simply reply to this email and place "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Privacy Policy Privacy Statement: LightBridgeHealthcare.com\contact_us\privacy.aspx